drawings

Artist book as a canvas for collecting

artist book, combined techniques, drawings / /

I recently made an artist’s book with simple brown bag pages.

brown bags for book making

Brown bags are strong and a great substrate for journals and books.

mixed media artist book

I added some white pages and some printed pages and a gelatin printed cover.

Then I randomly white washed a few pages, printed on a few and just started adding marks.

gelatin printed book page by linda germain

I am having fun adding marks here and there and letting the book evolve in a non-linear fashion.

mixed media gelatin printed book

I have been carrying it around with me, so I can add to it where ever I am.

gelatin print in handmade book

I think it might end up being a memory or record of these few months. I always enjoy looking at these kinds of journals years later.

Give it a try.

Make a book from brown bags or other non-precious papers and then:

  • white wash some pages
  • tape in random words
  • Scribble or doodle
  • screen print or stamp in some marks
  • add some gelatin prints.

Let it evolve over the next few weeks. If you get some ugly pages, then collage over them. Enjoy!

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Take a break and fuel your practice

drawings / /

Lately I have been using breaks to feed my art making.

free inspiration at your feet by lindagermain

On a sunny autumn day in New England, the foliage and fresh air feeds my sense of colors and landscape.

See the leaves at your feet

A walk around the city provides images for stencils.

screen print over a gelatin print

A sketch during a TV show can inspire, drawings, doodles and prints.

art sketchbook by linda germain

So how can you use breaks and other parts of your day to feed your art practice.

Get support from an online class. Check out the current offerings on the printmaking workshop page.

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Enjoy Ellsworth Kelly – abstract

drawings / /

I love the plant drawings that Ellsworth Kelly is known for.

 

But I found this short video that resonated for me.

I love his story about loving the windows of a space more than the paintings in the exhibit. I often see the reflection in an artwork more than the piece.

Shadows are always catching my eye, too

He says, Art needs time.

I think we make up the story/content when we give shadows, windows, relfections and abstract art time.

Do a search for an artist who inspires you and listen to him/her talk about art.

 

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Art by Design – Book inspires

drawings / /

I found the book Art by Design by Bill Oakes in a thrift store for 50 cents.

Art by Design by Bill Oakes

I was in love with the compelling black and white images on the cover.

inside Art by design by bill oakes

I must confess I have not read the book, but I do flip through it and skim the pages for inspiration.

exercises inert by design by bill oakes

I like to embrace the elements of design in classes that I teach and  take. For example, I am playing with simple landscapes, right now in a class with Anita Lehmann.

landscape studies by Linda Germain

I feel like I practice and play with line, value, color, texture, shape and space. And eventually the principles sink into my bones and will be second nature.

landscape study by linda germain

I think as artists we focus on different design principles differently and that is what makes our art unique.

I think I am about texture and shape,  but I am always chanting to myself to save whites and add blacks.  This way I have strong and interesting value changes.

Value changes from very light to very dark is often over looked. And just reclaiming some bright whites or adding a pop of very dark and instantly transform a piece.

If you would like help with art and design skills, check out the current classes.

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Making multiple monotypes from a sketch

drawings, trace monoprint / /

One way to get the most from your drawing efforts is to use a drawing or sketch that you like is to make a matrix for printing.

A matrix could be:

  • a screen for screen printing
  • a carved block for relief printing
  • a stencil for gelatin printmaking
  • a guide for trace monoprinting

Not all drawings will be good for every different type of matrix. For example if your drawing is a shapely silhouette, then that would be great for making a stencil for gelatin printmaking.

Gelatin prints by linda germain

If you have a very delicate or detailed drawing then maybe and emulsion style screen print would be the best choice.

emulsion style screen print

The style of drawing that works best for trace monoprinting is bold and expressive line drawings. The lines cannot be too delicate or too close together. Solid shapes should be avoided as well.

Trace monoprints by linda germain

The fuzzy black line and the random plate ink is characteristic of a trace monoprint. Check out my gallery of trace monoprints.

A couple of famous artists who used trace monoprinting (ink transfer drawing) are:

I love the experimental nature of the process combined with a predictable line drawing.  I also love to try to come up with new ways to make lines and marks.

trace monoprint on rusted paper

This is a trace monoprint that I did on rusted paper. The circles were made by pressing down on the paper with a large jar cover.

If you are interested in drawing and turning some of those drawings into trace monoprints, then join us in the online class, Draw into Print.

Read the details on the printmaking workshop page. It is a short 3 day class to get you drawing and printing right away.

make multiple prints from your drawings

From left to right, a trace monoprint, colored with watercolors, top, black line trace monoprint, bottom, 4″ x 6″ original sketch and far right, enlarged and reversed copy used as a matrix. Hope you find this interesting and join us in class.

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